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River Daze boasts fresh, natural, local

New owners employ personal style at former Sage’s Café location

A perfect place to enjoy and receive a good hearty breakfast or lunch is tucked away inside Mall 202 on the corner of Second Street and Cascade Ave.

River Daze Café is now open for business.

Co-owners Carey and Miranda Bray decided to take over the former eatery (previously known as Sage’s Café) to demonstrate their passion for food and to provide the community with fresh, high-quality dining.

Many locals in the community may remember the once existing café. However, the Brays have completely renovated the place and have created a whole new look.

As you enter the café you will be invited in by the warm, light moccasin colored painted walls.

“I like to call the color masking tape because it blends in perfectly well to the wall,” Miranda said.

Behind the new counters there is a built-in, colorful chalkboard menu that hangs above the newly-tiled wall.

The carpeted flooring has been replaced with wood flooring that matches with the new oak table tops and chairs.

The owners have taken both of their outside interests and incorporated them to the café. Carey enjoys farming and was involved with farmers markets. Miranda has always had a penchant for baking pastries. The couple decided to combine their many skills to open the café.

The simple English muffin sandwich is a signature breakfast dish. This sandwich is made out of fresh sourdough bread and contains egg and cheese. Extra toppings can be added on as well.

During lunch time between the hours of 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. the café is filled with customers who order simple, fast, healthy meals.

The tuna and turkey melt sandwiches are two of the most popular sandwiches ordered. These delectables are made from freshly baked bread and are topped off with mostly local produce. Carey and Miranda said they try to support local farmers as much as possible. Most of their products are from the Northwest.

There are eight styles of sandwiches available. “These are standard sandwiches with a twist,” Miranda said. For example, the “mama mayo sauce,” which is made by adding in some peppers, gives the sandwiches an extra kick of flavor.

“The sandwiches are high quality, hand crafted and big,” Carey said.

Miranda and Carey grew up in northern California surrounded by rivers. They both have spent a lot of time on the water and have developed a love for river towns. Their interest in rivers is so strong that their son is named River and that helps explain why they choose the name River Daze Café.

So far business is going well for the Brays. They both said they are looking forward to expanding the breakfast menu, adding soups in the fall and adding more pastries.

The café has frequent customers who stop by and eat at least five or six times a week. One of their regular customers, local business owner Jen Jones, can state that the café is a “must-stop.”

“I am a health nut, so I don’t eat out often; but I come and eat lunch here because it’s something that I would make for myself,” she said.

Jones said she also likes that there are vegetarian options available, adding, “The food is fresh and delicious.”